What is xcware exactly?

To provide some context, the xcware Universal Computing Platform was developed to address the frustrations with the complexity and strategies of existing virtualization and cloud systems. A team of experienced System Administrators, Cloud Architects, Cloud/System Engineers, and VMware/Citrix Engineers came together to design the xcware platform, emphasizing flexibility, simplicity, security, and performance, with a strong focus on the Sky Computing concept.

While xcware Cloud Solutions is a new startup, our platform has been rigorously field-tested over the past two years across a diverse range of companies. This experience has validated our potential to disrupt the market and positions us for a robust launch and growth trajectory.

The xcware Universal Computing Platform is a collection of components that integrate seamlessly to create a highly adaptable computing system for diverse use cases. For a more detailed description, please refer to our xcware Documentation.

Can xcware replace the cloud?

The xcware strategy is not to replace the cloud but to position the xcware platform as a layer above it. Our goal is to unify critical business services, independent of cloud vendors, to enhance agility and achieve significant time and cost savings. We view cloud providers as data centers offering vendor-specific services that businesses can leverage and benefit from as needed.

Can xcware replace VMware/Citrix?

Yes, but we highly recommend having a comprehensive migration plan in place. For instance, one of our reference customers, bielomatik.de (a Persico Group company), successfully transitioned from VMware Horizon. They migrated over 30 graphics-intensive CAD/CAE workstations, 100+ office workstations, and 60+ servers to run entirely on the xcware platform on-premises. They replaced their Horizon Server and Horizon Client with Vista Sessions and the Vista Connect client, achieving superior performance with the same hardware. This migration resulted in a 90% reduction in license costs by eliminating the need for CC User licenses and, more importantly, enabled a seamless transition to the cloud, securing future development agility.

How do I migrate a VMware VMDK?

While various tools can be used to convert your VMDK files into the Nebula raw disk format, the real question is: is it worth the effort? In our experience assisting companies with migrations from VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft, the challenge was rarely about the conversion process itself but rather the time it would take. In 90% of cases, provisioning new machines and restoring from backups proved to be a faster and more efficient approach. Only in rare instances, usually involving legacy technologies, was the conversion method the preferred option.

For tailored guidance on your migration process, feel free to contact our consulting team. We’re here to help!

What is Sky Computing?

Here is what Wikipedia defines it as. Initially, we described our innovation as "Universal Computing," but over the years, many customers, developers, and businesses have started referring to it as "Sky Computing." This shift in terminology aligns with the goals outlined in the research paper from the University of California, Berkeley. Consequently, we have adopted the term "Sky Computing" to better reflect our approach.

In simple terms, "Sky Computing" is a model where the xcware Universal Computing layer operates above the cloud, unifying essential business services regardless of the cloud provider. This model boosts agility and provides substantial time and cost savings. Cloud providers are treated as data centers offering vendor-specific services that businesses can utilize as needed.

Please refer to our Sky Computing - What are the benefits? page for more information.

Does xcware support Kubernetes?

Out of the box, no. The xcware platform features its own Magna Cluster services, which are highly advantageous for many distributed computing and data storage use cases. However, you can set up a Kubernetes cluster to leverage the Magna Cluster infrastructure if needed.

Does xcware support GPUs?

Yes, if your server supports GPU installation, you can utilize GPUs within the xcware platform. For more details, please refer to the document Nebula GPU for Instances.

Why aren't Red Hat and SUSE Enterprise distributions supported?

It is primarily due to licensing and support complexities, but we are eager to support them as well. Additionally, there is an ongoing effort to develop our own Nebula Enterprise Linux, which would streamline the deployment process of the Nebula system, though we have not reached that stage yet.

What are Vista Sessions and Vista Connect?

Vista Sessions and Vista Connect work together in tandem. Vista Sessions, a xcware service, associates user identities with specific resources. Once this mapping is established, the Vista Connect client establishes a connection to those resources via a secure tunnel. Together, they create a remote infrastructure primarily used for vGPU-enabled Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), with applications extending beyond this scope.

Can Vista Sessions serve as a replacement for VMware Horizon?

Yes, Vista Sessions can replace VMware Horizon, but currently, it lacks the ability to dynamically assign available machines, which is important in some use cases. However, we will soon introduce the Vista Pools service to enhance the Vista Sessions experience. In the meantime, as an alternative, we offer the option to create a Flow-fx flow that scans and assigns available machines within a Vista Session automation setup.

Is xcware Free Edition really free?

Absolutely! However, there are limitations. The Free Edition is intended for private use and development only, so it cannot be used commercially. You may use it within your business, but strictly for development purposes. For a detailed comparison of the different editions and the limitations of the Free Edition, please refer to the document Compare xcware Editions and you should also have look at our End User License Agreement.

Can we implement the Zero Trust concept with xcware platform?

Yes, additional security configurations and policies must be applied to fully leverage Zero Trust principles. By default, certain Zero Trust policies, such as a default Firewall DENY OUTBOUND rule, are not activated to facilitate a smoother user experience. For instance, the default setting is ALLOW OUTBOUND to simplify the transition. However, our consultants are available to provide a detailed roadmap and instructions for activating all Zero Trust policies. The xcware platform is designed with security at its core and supports the implementation of comprehensive Zero Trust policies.

Can I create AWS Policies from xcware

The Sky Node deployed on AWS will require the appropriate permissions to access the AWS services you intend to integrate. These permissions are managed through AWS policies and cannot be configured directly from the xcware platform. However, if you assign specific roles to the Sky Node, you can manage policies and resources through the AWS API and Flow-fx functions.

Can you explain how xcware helps save on cloud costs?

Cloud providers typically monetize based on resource usage, charging for every component involved, including CPU, storage, network bandwidth, API calls, data transfers, functions, and even roles and policies. This granular billing approach means that virtually every aspect of cloud operations incurs a cost.

In contrast, by deploying a Sky Node on the cloud, many of these services are managed within the xcware environment, significantly reducing the number of chargeable components with your cloud provider. As a result, you may only incur costs for minimal services directly associated with the Sky Node instance. This streamlined approach can potentially reduce your overall cloud expenses by approximately 50%. However, it is important to evaluate specific scenarios to maximize these savings and determine the most cost-effective configuration for your needs.

In summary, for example, while AWS offers over 200 chargeable services, the xcware platform covers more than 110 of these services at no additional cost.

Another significant cost-saving benefit, especially if you are planning to develop multi-cloud solutions, is the reduction in development efforts. By unifying your core services at a top level, you minimize the need for specialized expertise for each cloud vendor. This streamlined approach leads to reduced development complexity and costs, as you can manage and integrate your services more efficiently without needing extensive knowledge of multiple cloud platforms.

Please refer to our Sky Computing - What are the benefits? page for more information.

For personalized advice on overcoming your cost-saving challenges, please reach out to our consulting team. We're here to assist you!

What is the default resource monitoring solution used on the xcware platform?

We implemented a basic monitoring service for Sky Node and instance resources, displaying CPU, RAM, and DISK usage. These metrics are accessible via API calls and can be used for monitoring and alerting with Flow-fx. We intentionally kept the monitoring simple, as collecting detailed stats is a resource-intensive operation. However, for more extensive monitoring, you can use Prometheus and Grafana if needed.

If you need help setting up Prometheus and Grafana, please reach out to our support team. We're here to assist you!

Is a xcware deployment without Internet access possible?

Yes, a xcware deployment without Internet access is possible. For this, we provide an installable Nebula Live image based on Debian 12, which can be customized for your environment. We do not offer it as a direct download, as we build the image for each customer with the latest security updates. If you require a Nebula Live image for a closed environment, please contact support@xcware.com. Please note, this service is available exclusively to customers with an active license.